Electric sign



March Z2, A'1932. H. M|LLER ELECTRIC SIGN Filed Feb. 1e, 1929 @@@QVQQQ MQQQQQQ wams Y L A Patented Mar. 22, 1932 Unire sparesg PATENr orrrce HENRY MILLER, DECEASED, LATE F CHICAGO,` ILLINOIS, BY BLANCHE MILLER, ADIrEINISTRATB/IX, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS ELECTRIC SIGN Application led February 16, 1929. Serial No. 340,430.

The present invention relates generally to electric advertising or announcing signs. More particularly, the invention relates to that type of sign which is for use in connection with incandescent lamps of the single contact type and comprises a frame and a plurality of detachable and interchangeable sheet metal letter-bearing plates which have sockets or apertures therethrough for receiving the threaded casings of the lamps and form one of the electrical conductors for the lamp circuit.

One object of the invention is to provide a sign of the aforementioned character in which one of the end members ofthe frame is removable and the upper and lower framemembers are provided with longitudinal slideways which are operative to support the letter-bearing plates and permit the latter to be slid laterally into their proper position and withdrawn when the removable end member is disconnected with respect to the frame. l

Another object of the invention is to simplify the formation of the slideways by providing a construction wherein the upper frame-member as well as the lower member` embodies a sheet metal channel strip and a sheet'metal angle strip, the latter being positioned between the legs of the channel strip and arranged so that one flange thereof cooperates with one leg of the channel strip tok form one of the slideways.

A further obj ect of the invention is the provision of a sheet metal plate which extends completely across the back wall of the fra-me and is adapted to engage the contacts or end.

terminals of the lamps and form the other conductor for the lamp circuit.

A still further obj ect of the invention is the provision of a mount for the sheet metal back plate which causes the latter to bulge toward the lamps and to engage the contacts under spring pressure so as to insure an eiiicient electrical contact and hold yieldingly the lamps in their respective sockets.

Additionally, the invention contemplates as one of its objects, to provide anew and improved illuminated word-displaying sign which embodies a small number of parts, may

be manufactured at a comparatively low cost and is more simple with respect to construction and assemblage of the letter-bearing plates than those signs now in use. Y

Gther objects and the various advantages and characteristics of the present invention will be apparent from a consideration of the following detailed description.

The invention consists in the several novel features hereinafter set forth and more particularly deiined by the claims at the conclusion hereof.

In the drawings which accompany and form a part of this disclosure or specification and in which like numerals and characters of reference denote corresponding parts throughout the several views Figure l is a front elevation of an electric advertising or announcing sign embodying the invention;

Figure 2 is a similar view showing the sign without the letter-bearing plates and the removable end member of the frame;

Figure 3 is a sectional view taken on the line 3.-?) of Figure 2, illustrating in detail the construction of the binding post and the electrical conductor means which are associated with the back contact-engaging plate;

Figure 4 is a section taken on the line 4-4 of Figure l, showing the manner in which the back plate is mounted and bulged forwardly into engagement with the contacts or end ter-` minals .of the lamps;

Figure 5 is a sectional view taken on the line 5-5 of Figure 2, illustrating in detail the construction of the binding post and the electrical conductor lmeans which are associated with the letters and the sheet metal slideway-forming strips of the upper framemember; and

Figure 6 is a perspective of one of the letter-bearing plates.

The invention is exemplified in an electric sign which is adapted primarily for advertising or announcing purposes and comprises a rectangular frame 7 and a plurality of letter or symbol-bearing plates 8. The frame proper is formed of any suitable electrical insulating material and consists of a back wall 9, an upper member l0 and a lower member 10G 11. The upper and lower members are formed integrally with the back wall 9 as indicated more particularly in Figures Ll and 5 and are rectangular in cross section. They project forwardly from the top and bottoni marginal portions of the back wall respectively., are parallel to each other` and extend to both ends of the frame. The latter (frame 7) in addition to the bach wall and members 1()Y and 11 comprises a pail-'of end pieces-12 and 13. The end piece 12 is fixed :ith respect to the frame and may be eitherl formed as an integral part thereof or separatively.

lt extends forwardly of the members l() and f" 11 and has mitered end surfaces 121.

The end piece 13 is formed as a separate piece and is removably secured in' place by a pair of screws 11i which are preferably located cent the ends of piece 13 and are adapted to be screwed into engagement with :thev contiguous end part vof the back wall 9. The front por tion of theend piece 13 projects forwardly of the members andll and has mitered end strips 13ab which overlap said members (Figure 1);

The upper frameemember 10 is provided with a longitudinal slideway 15 for receiving the upper marginal portions ofthe letterbearing plates 8. This slidewa-y is formed by means of a sheet metal channel member 16 and a sheet metal angle'strip 17. The latter consists of flanges .17ar and 17h and is positioned and secured in place so that these flangeslap or fit directly against the front and top faces of the member 10 respectively. The end portions of the flange 1.7 are mitered so as to fit properly with respect to the continguous ends of the pieces 12 and 13. The channel strip 16 consists cfa pair of legs 16"L and an intermediate or connecting 'web 16". It is positioned and is of such dimensionsthat one of the legs thereof laps the'bach face of the member v10 and the other leg is disposed in spacedrelationwithrespect tothe flange 17 for the purpose offormingthe slideway 15. The connectingweb 16b fits against and is suitably secured to thehorizonta-l flange 17D of the angle strip 17. The-ends of: the frontmost leg 16a are mitered similarly to and are coextensive withthe iiange 1T so as to engage against the continuous end surface 12a and strip 13a. A characteristic'and an advantage of forming :the: slideway 15 in the manner set forthisthat'standard strips'may be used in the construction and consequently the cost of fabrication'orproduction is reduced to a minimum.

Thelower frame-member'11 embodies a longitudinal slideway 18 which vis adapted tov arrangement to thestrips 16 and 17.

The plates 8 are formed of metal and are adapted to be slid laterally along the slideways into place when the end member 13 is disconnected with respect to the frame. They are of uniform thickness throughout and are preferably rectangular in con-formation so that they may be shifted into abutting relation as shown in Figure 1. Said plates are illuminated by a plurality of incandescent lamps 21 of the typeV which" comprises a threaded base 22 and a single Contact or end terminal 23 at the distal end of the base. The bases of the lamps 21 extend through Ysockets or apertures 24 in the letter portions of the plates and are held in place by screw threads 25. The contacts 23`areV adapted to engage against a sheet metal-back plate 26 so as to form an electrical connection therewith. This plate is spaced forwardly from the wall 9 and `has the top and bottom marginal portions thereof positioned in recesses 27 inthe longitudinal members ofthe fra-me. The recesses .are of such character thatfthe central portionof the backplate 26 bulges forwardly and consequently engages the contacts 23 under spring pressure. An advantage in bulging the back plate in this manner is that an efficient electrical connection forthe contacts 23 vis assured and the bases 22 are yieldably held in the sockets 24; and in interfitting4 relation with the screw threads 25. Themarginal portions of the back plate 26l which are disposed in the recesses 27a-re conlined 'and yheld againstdisplacement .by'= strips 28 of insulation. The ends ofthe bac-lr plate are substantially conterminous with the ends ofthe wall 9.

The electrical connections whereby alamp circuit is established consists of apair oflive conductors 29 and 30. The conductor 29 lis connected to the rearmostlleg 16a Aof the channel strip 16A by abindingpost 31. The latter is heldin place by ay-rivet 32 or any'other suitable means and supplies electrical energy or currentto the bases 22 through the slideway-forming strips and the plates 8.` The conductor is electrically connected .tothe contact or back plate 26 by a pin 33 which is in the nature of abindingpost; This pin eX- tends through the rearmost leg'of the channel strip 16 as indica-ted in Figure3 and .is insulated therefrom by a sleeve or. bushing 34. The latter, together with the pin 33, is positioned in a cylindricalrecess35 in the upper frame member. The electrical'circuit for the lamps is as follows: Conductor. 29,L binding post 31, strips 16 and-17', letter-bearing plates 8, lamps 21, back plate 26, pin33 and conduct-or 30.

In use,the sign is positioned in any deposition by attaching the end piece 13. The

lamps 21 are screwed into engagement with the threads 25 of the sockets 24 and jammed into contact with the back plate 26. This results in the formation of the aforementioned electrical current between the conductors 29 and 30. In the event that one of the lamps 22 burns out or is rendered inoperative, it may be replaced independently of the other lamps and without interrupting the supply of current.

rllhe sign construction herein disclosed embodies but a comparatively small number of parts and may be produced at a low and reasonable cost. If desired the plates 8 may be formed as one piece. f

The invention is not to be understood as restricted to the details set forth, sincel these may be modified Within the scope of the appended claims, without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed as new and desired to be secured by Letters Patent, is: v

1. In an electric sign, the combination of a substantially rectangular frame, a plate formed of conducting material and embodying means electrically connected thereto forming a plurality of sockets in the form of a letter, conductor means forming `a sliding connection whereby the plate may be slid laterally into connected relation with the frame, incandescent lamps of the single contact type held in said sockets, and a pair of electrical conductors for supplying `current to the lamps, one of the conductors being connected directly to the said conductor means and the other conductor being connected electrically to the contacts of the lamps.

2. In an electric sign, the combination of a substantially rectangular frame, a plate formed of conducting material and embodying integral means forming la ,plurality of sockets in the form of ya letter, conductor means connected to the longitudinal members of the frame and forming a sliding connection whereby the plate may be slid laterally into connected relation with said frame, incandescent lamps of the single contact type held in the sockets, Vand a pair of electrical conductors for supplying current to said lamps, one of the conductors being connected directly to said conductor-means and the other conductor being connected electrically to the contacts of the lamps.

3. In an electric sign, the combination of a substantially rectangular frame comprising a longitudinal member formed of insulating material, a plate formed of conducting material and having a plurality of sockets therein in the form of a letter, a sheet metal channelstrip connected tothe longitudinal member and operative to form a slideway whereby the plate` maybe slid laterally into connected relation with the frame, incandescent lamps of the single contact type held in the sockets, and a pair of electrical conductorsfor supplying current to said lamps, oneA of the conductors being lconnected to the channel strip and the other conductor being connected electrically to theicontacts of the lamps.

4. In an electric sign, the combination of a substantially rectangular frame comprisinga longitudinal member formed of insulating material, a plate formed of conducting material and having a plurality of sockets therein in the form of a letter, a sheet metal channel strip anda sheet metal kangle strip connected together and to the longitudinal member and arranged so that one leg of the channel strip; andv one flange of the angle strip are spaced v-apart and cooperative-to form a longitudinal slideway wherebyy the plate maybe slid laterally into connected relation with the frame, incandescent lamps of the single contact' type held in the sockets, and a pair of electrical conductors for supplying current to said lamps, one of the conductors being coniiectedto one of the sheet metal strips and the other conductor being connected electrically tothe contacts of-y the lamps.

f 5. In an electric sign, thek combination of ak substantially rectangular' frame provided with aback wall, metallic back platev in frontof said walland substantially coeXtensive therewith, a metallic plate slidably connected tothe frame in front of the backl plate and` having means connected electrically thereto and forming a plurality of sockets in the form of a letter, incandescent lamps of the single contact type fitted to the sockets and arranged so that the end terminals thereof engage the back plate, and a pair of electrical conductors fory supplying current to said lamps, one of the conductors being `connected to the back plate and the other being adapted to supply current to the plate for passage to the lamps via the sockets.

6. In an electric sign, the combination of a substantially rectangular frame, a metal back plate mounted in said frame so that the central portion thereof bulges forwardly, a plate connected to the frame vso as to extend in front of and be spaced from said back plate, said second mentioned plate having a plurality of sockets extending therethrough in the form of a letter, incandescent lamps of the single contact` type fitting in the sockets-and arranged so that the end terminals thereof engage the bulged portion of the backy plate, and a pair of electrical conductors for supplying current to said lamps, lone of the'conductors being connected to the' back plate lic.

45 nasognssi and-L the other conductorv heingconneotedelectrically to the ibase Aparte of the lamps. p

v'1?'wk In anelectric sign,theycombinationrofa substantially;rectangular frame, a metal hack plate mounted in said frame "so that the centml portion thereofsbulges forwardly, a `plate slidably connected to the frame sofas to `extend in front. of. and be spaced frornsaid back plate,` saidlsecond mentionedplate having a plurality of 'sockets extending' therethrough in the form of a letter, incandescent lamps of the single contact type'fitting in the sockets andaarrangedso that the endterminalsthere'- otr-engage the bulged portionfof` the; back plate-aud a pair of electrical conductors for supplyingcurrent to said lamps, one ofV the conductors being connected tothe back plate andfthel other conductor being connected electrically to the -base parts of the lamps.

' 8, Inan electric. sigrnthe combinationof a substantially rectangular' frame having longitu'di'nal recesses formed in;thefl0ngitudina1 members thereof, an elongated back: plate having the longitudinal marginaal portions thereof confinedA in said recesses, a plate slidably,T connected toltheframe so as to extend infront oithelback plate' and having a; pf rality of ,sockets extending therethrough in the forni of: a. letter, incandescent' lamps'. of the Isingle Contact' type fittingr inthe `sockets' and arrangedso thattheendterminal's there-v of engage the bulged portion of the back plate,

anda pair of electrical conductorsfor. supplyingcurrenttosaid lamps, one of the conductorsibeing connected to the back plate and the' other conductor being connected. electrically to the base `parts'o'fthe lamps.:

i l BLANCHE" MILLER, p Admefmstrcztrm `of the Estate of Henry Mil- Y 3er, Deceased. l 

